Adrian Burk (1970) - Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame

Adrian Burk

Induction:
1970
Class:
1950

ADRIAN BURK, Joinerville, Texas (Football, 1948-49; Baseball, 1949-50) – 1970

Earning All-America and consensus All-Southwest Conference honors as a senior in 1949, Burk passed for a national-leading 1,428 yards that season. A junior college transfer, he passed for 2,024 yards and 20 touchdowns in his two-year career and set a school record with a 122.44 pass efficiency rating that still ranks in the top 10.

In his first year at Baylor, Burk led the Bears to a 20-7 win over Wake Forest in the Dixie Bowl, Baylor’s first postseason bowl game. He also earned All-SWC honors as a first baseman for the 1950 baseball team, leading the league in hits in SWC play with 24.

Drafted in the first round with the second pick overall by the Baltimore Colts in 1950, Burk played seven years in the NFL and earned Pro Bowl honors in 1954 and ’55. He shares an NFL single-game record, throwing seven TD passes in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 49-21 win over the Washington Redskins on Oct. 17, 1954.

Following his pro career, Burk returned to Baylor and graduated from law school, going on to become the Houston Oilers’ General Counsel. He later worked as an NFL official as a back judge, calling the 1972 playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers that featured the “Immaculate Reception.”